“Pharmageddon” is the name given to the three-day nationwide strike that CVS Pharmacists Walkout, which is a component of the larger “Pharmageddon” movement, highlights the difficulties encountered by pharmacy employees nationwide and is preparing for an audacious move that echoes the worries of pharmacy personnel around the country. From Monday through Wednesday, retail pharmacy staff will be staging a demonstration to bring attention to their long-standing issues, especially at large chains like Walgreens and CVS. Unsafe working conditions, a lack of personnel, low wages, and increasing demands for performance from upper management are the main problems.
National pharmacy workers at Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid are planning a historic strike, “Pharmageddon,” to protest what they see as unsafe working conditions that put patients and employees at risk. The project is scheduled to run from Monday through Wednesday and aims to highlight the ongoing issues that retail pharmacy staff continue to confront, such as understaffing, inadequate remuneration, and increased job expectations from corporate management.
Those in charge, including independent chemist and activist Shane Jerominski, are hoping to use the strike as a springboard to get real change in the pharmaceutical business. A large number of employees from Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid will likely participate in the walkout, which is anticipated to affect hundreds of locations across several chains. Rallies will also be held outside of several venues around the nation, and the organisers are still trying to get an accurate headcount.
Staff members’ worries about the stress of the job are brought to light by the fact that they had to administer vaccinations and tests one after the other during the COVID-19 epidemic. Patients are at risk of damage due to understaffing issues, which has led to a perceived rise in errors. The walkout is a response to the industry’s failure to address the serious problems experienced by its frontline employees, and it is the climax of many years of dissatisfaction.
Some members of the pharmacy staff who are not already unionised may try to get their voices heard during the upcoming walkout. The increasing demand for collective bargaining power to secure improved working conditions is reflected in the contemplation of unionisation, even when there are no specific agreements to join a labour group.
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Current Scenario:
The way that CVS and Walgreens, the two largest pharmacies in the country, treat their frontline employees has been the subject of criticism. Dissatisfaction among pharmacy staff has centred on CVS and Walgreens, with an average hourly compensation of $61.44 and $53.85 per hour, respectively. Both financial worries and the escalation of demands brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak have contributed to the work stoppage.
Reasons for the walkout:
CVS Pharmacists Walkout, which is a component of the larger “Pharmageddon” movement, highlights the difficulties encountered by pharmacy employees nationwide. are speaking out against the excessive pressure to perform, which has been particularly heightened by the pandemic. Patient safety was a major worry due to the strain on an already overworked personnel caused by the requirement for consecutive immunisations and tests. Employees in the pharmacy are under increased pressure to multitask due to a lack of resources and an ever-rising workload, which increases the likelihood of mistakes. Statistics show that between seven thousand and nine thousand Americans lose their lives each year as a result of drug errors, with an estimated 100,000 prescription errors being voluntarily reported to the FDA each year.
In addition, we can’t turn a blind eye to the emotional and physical strain on pharmacy workers. Employees frequently experience burnout due to the demanding nature of their work, which includes fielding patient calls, giving vaccines every 15 minutes, handling insurance and doctor-related concerns, performing fast COVID and flu tests, and assisting clients in-store. Walgreens was the only pharmacy chain to eliminate performance-based measures last year, which was a significant move.
Company Responses:
Walgreens and CVS both had different reactions to the anticipated walkout once word got out. U.S. drugstore giant CVS has said that it is not seeing any unusual behaviour, including unannounced closures of pharmacies or pharmacists going on strike, at the moment. If employees have any complaints, the company is listening to them and working to resolve them.
In contrast, Walgreens praised its chemists and technicians for their outstanding work and emphasised the measures used to guarantee the best possible treatment for patients. The organisers of the walkout, however, contend that these steps are inadequate and are instead calling for deeper reforms to the workplace.
Unionization as a Path Forward:
Additionally, the walkout’s organisers are thinking about pushing for pharmacy staff unionisation, which might offer workers more power to negotiate for improved working conditions. Although there are currently no formal agreements to join a labour group, the pharmacy personnel saw the push for unionisation as an important step in addressing their issues.
Conclusion:
The impending CVS Pharmacists Walkout, which is a component of the larger “Pharmageddon” movement, highlights the difficulties encountered by pharmacy employees nationwide. These workers are fighting for more than just a living wage; they want better working conditions that put patients first. The walkout is a rallying cry for the whole business to reconsider its methods and look out for the people who are vital to protecting the public’s health.
